Fellowship with Our Heavenly Father is the highest level of relationship a person can have. What more could one ask for than to have an intimate relationship with the Creator of Heaven and earth. We all desire fellowship with others and have a deep-seated need to be loved. Those who have been hurt by loved ones in the past will build walls of protection only to find those walls become a prison of isolation and agony. They had been vulnerable to their loved ones only to be used and exploited for selfish reasons. On the other hand, Our Creator who is the GOD of Love has only our best interest at heart. There are many mysteries we cannot comprehend but Our Heavenly Father has full understanding and will guide us through those mysteries in His lovingkindness, grace, and mercy.
Moses was given a pattern to follow to enable Our Heavenly Father to dwell with the children of Israel. The Tabernacle in the wilderness provides us with a simple understanding of “dwelling in His Presence”:
Exodus 25:8-9 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them, According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it. (NKJV)
Thus Our Heavenly Father gives us a pattern by which we can expect His Glory to dwell among us or in us as our Tabernacle is now our body. Moses was given elaborate and detailed instructions for the design of the Tabernacle and its contents, each detail being symbolic bursting with meaning. Further instructions were given for the lawful entrance into the Holy of Holies by of the priest. There were three basic steps to bring forth the Glory of Our Heavenly Father:
1 Draw near unto Yahweh.
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Lev 9:5-6 |
And they brought [that] which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. |
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And Moses said, This [is] the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you. |
2 Present sacrifices to THE LORD
There were two types of sacrifices: sin and gift offerings. Once the sin offerings had dealt with the “flesh”, gift offerings were given as a sweet smelling savor to Our Heavenly Father.
Lev 9:7-22
3 Bless the people
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Lev 9:23 |
And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people |
This pattern was an external type and shadow of bringing forth the Glory of GOD. Until Jesus became flesh and fulfilled the five types of sacrifices, the priests were charged with ministering to Our Heavenly Father with the pattern mentioned above. Once Jesus satisfied the requirement of the Levitical sacrifice, He provided all of us with the opportunity to “draw near” unto Our Heavenly Father.
Bring for the Glory, the anointing, the power of Our Heavenly Father among us requires reverence and respect. When the Glory appeared, the people fell on their face (Lev 9:24). The Glory is greater than all of mankind yet man is so self-centered he fails to comprehend the need for reverence.
Paul understood this pattern give to Moses when he wrote:
Draw near:
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Present the sacrifices:
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.
Bless the people:
Roman 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
In Romans 12, Paul provides us with much detail on how to bless others and specifically: 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. If you want the Glory of GOD to flow through you, Love must be the motivating force in your actions.